Piobaireachd Society News/ Archie Kenneth Quaich/ Cowal Gathering Manager

The Piobaireachd Society have announced that their popular series of online tutorials, ‘Talk Piobaireachd’, will return for winter 2024/25. Starting next month, the talks will highlight beginner tunes and tunes from the set lists for next year’s Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting Gold and Silver Medal competitions. The dates and presenters, all members of the Society’s Music Committee, are as follows: Nov 20 – Peter McCalister: Lament for Alasdair Dearg,…

Glenfiddich Championship 2024 Results

The Glenfiddich Champion for 2024 is Callum Beaumont (above). He was placed first in MSR and third in Ceòl Mòr. Runner-up was Stuart Liddell, with Nick Hudson, Texas, in third. There was a large audience in the great hall at Blair Castle, Blair Atholl. Piobaireachd placings:1 Stuart Liddell, Unjust Incarceration2 Finlay Johnston, Donald Gruamach’s March3 Callum Beaumont, Lament for Donald Ban MacCrimmon4 Nick Hudson, Lament for the Laird of Anapool5…

Legal Action in Ontario: PPBSO Publish Update

Andrew Giles, President of the Pipers’ and Pipe Band Society of Ontario (PPBSO), has posted this new notice on the Society’s website: ‘As the leadership of the PPBSO, we want to address the ongoing situation that many of you are aware of. We understand that without access to the full scope of information, it’s natural to have questions or concerns. However, we ask for your patience as we navigate this complex…

Band News: RSPBA Regradings Announced/ World Solo Drumming

The Association’s Music Board have confirmed the following changes to band grades. The following 35 bands have all been upgraded for the 2025 season: Novice B to Novice A: Burntisland, Dollar Academy, High School of Dundee, Strathallan School, Scotch College No.2 (Australia) Novice A to Juvenile: Dollar Acad., George Watson’s Coll., Renfrewshire Schools, West Lothian SchoolsGrade 4B to 4A: Altnaveigh, Govan Community, Kilmarnock, City of Discovery, Moneygore, Marlacoo Grade 4B…

Lochnell Intermediate Piping Championship Results

This prestigious contest for professional solo pipers aged under 22 was held yesterday, October 19th, at Lochnell Castle, Benderloch, Argyll, courtesy the Earl of Dundonald. The overall champion, by piobaireachd preference, was Cameron May, from Dillarburn, Lanarkshire. He is pictured above with (l) Ross Conner, Campbeltown, winner of the MSR, and (r) Ruiraidh Brown, Dunblane, winner of the Ceòl Mòr. Cameron received the overall trophy and the Royal Scottish Pipers’…